Waterloo Region – After hearing from 1,867 young people in 2023, the Children and Youth Planning Table (CYPT) of Waterloo Region is set to launch their fourth region-wide Youth Impact Survey. Fill out the survey here.

“By participating in the Youth Impact Survey, you’re helping shape programs and services that are built not just for young people, but with them,” said Regional Chair Karen Redman. “Decision makers and organizations in our community use this data to build the Waterloo Region of the future – and we can’t do it without you.”

Based on the Canadian Index of Child and Youth Well-being, a framework developed by UNICEF Canada to better understand how children and youth are doing across the country, the Youth Impact Survey is available until June 1st. Any and all children and youth aged 9 to 18 years old living in Waterloo Region can participate.

The Youth Impact Survey consent forms are available in seven languages (English, French, Arabic, Spanish, Farsi, Urdu, Tigrigna), and the survey is available in English, French, and Arabic. To get paper copies of the Youth Impact Survey, please reach out to Sevil Berenji at SBerenji@regionofwaterloo.ca.

Youth Impact Survey data from all previous years is publicly available. The data has been used by government, community organizations, and individuals in grant applications, strategic planning, and other decision-making efforts. Organizations in Waterloo Region have leveraged the 2023 Youth Impact Survey data to gain $2.99 million in funding to support young people. Additionally, the CYPT has funded young people’s ideas that address challenges seen in the data through the Youth Impact Project.

About the Children and Youth Planning Table

The Children and Youth Planning Table of Waterloo Region is a community-wide partnership of service providers, researchers, planning bodies, and funders who serve children, youth, and families, that works to improve the well-being of children and youth in the region. A large part of meaningfully serving children and youth is to ensure that they are given a platform to express their needs, concerns and ideas in their own words.

Youth Testimonials

“I felt like I was actually given a chance to tell the community what I've been thinking.”

—2023 Youth Impact Survey Respondent

“I liked the fact that [the survey] finally seemed as though someone cares about youth in Waterloo Region for once. I felt like my opinions were silenced for so long but now someone wanted to hear them.”

—2023 Youth Impact Survey Respondent

“What I like best about the Youth Impact Survey is that it checks in with youth really asking those questions that others forget to ask. It really makes you feel appreciated and like there's someone who cares.”

—2021 Youth Impact Survey Respondent